GREENMUSE is a regular reader and fan contributor at antiMUSIC, the views expressed here don't necessarily reflect those of antiMUSIC or our sponsors, but we are sure you will enjoy what he has to say! 

Music is an indirect force for change, because it provides an anchor against human tragedy. In this sense, it works towards a reconciled world. It can also be the direct experience of change. At certain points during some shows, the reconciled world is already here, at least in that second, at that place. Operation Ivy was very lucky to have experienced this. Those seconds reveal that the momentum that drives a subculture is more important than any particular band. The momentum is made of all the people who stay interested, and keep their sense of urgency and hope. ---Jesse Michaels
 
If you know these words I consider you a brother, or a sister depending on what you're packing in your trousers. Operation Ivy was one of those rare things that last but a short while yet whose ripples are still stirring the surface the lake of time. Those words in my opinion were not written by human hands. I think Jesse is something more. And in true form, I have a theory as to why. In the religion of music there is but one all powerful god, and we(should) all agree it is Lemmy, but I think music is a polytheist realm of many gods. After all surely Joe strummer, Joey Ramone, Chuck Schulinder, Ozzy Osbourne etc etc are deities in their own rights as well? Jesse I'd imagine would be the god of mixing ska and punk as he is one of the few who can do it well. Most of the genre is s***e and derivative of each other, its my theory that in order for a ska punk band to be good they must invoke the name of Jesse Michaels and snort 3 lines of tang off a news anchor named Laura's shoulder on the third Tuesday of March if she is wearing a  red blouse. If she isn't then the band must wait till the first Sunday in June to snort the tang. Many bands forget the last part and just think aping Op Ivy will work. Well it doesn't. Of course, if Jesse is directly involved with the band the tang ritual is null and void. 
 
But unlike other musical deities Jesse has special properties. He works for a few years, then takes a long time off. Op ivy was only around for 2 years; he released an EP with Big Rig and did two albums with Common Rider. This leaves a lot of holes in his career. Mysteries abound as to why Op Ivy disbanded a day after the release party for "Hectic". Even more abound as to what Jesse did during his time away; some say he studied to be a Buddhist monk. But notice that Op Ivy ended in 1989. What year did the Berlin Wall fall and Germany was once again united? That's right: 1989. Jesse had to leave the band to use his phenomenal cosmic powers to unite Germany and give the East Germans the opportunity to rejoin their West German friends and buy cars other than Trabants, the not getting shot anymore by Russian troops was a welcome bonus as well. Jesse is in his infinite wisdom played his role in the shadows so not many people would know about his role in this. He did a good job of covering his tracks by not using his powers to stop David Hassellhoff from singing to the newly free and impressionable East Germans who didn't know any better than to like Hassellhoff. 
 
Fast forward a lot of years to the near present, Common Rider appeared on the horizon and there was much rejoicing now that Jesse had returned to music and was as good as ever at doing what he does. Which is to write simple, yet damn good songs. Jesse picked up playing guitar and even got a signature model through GPC guitars. Yup things were looking great as to Jesse's becoming a permanent fixture in music. But alas it was not to be and Common Rider broke up. Now this one even I have no theory on, but obviously Jesse must have been busy on cosmic business as he didn't use his powers to stop one time bandmate Tim Armstrong from writing songs for Pink or getting Kelly Osbourne to appear in a Rancid video. I surely hope whatever it was many lives were spared to warrant such heartbreaking news from befalling the world. In any case we should all pray to Bob Ross, Lemmy, or whoever you hold dear that Jesse's work in the unknown dimension is soon over and he returns to give the world a few more slices of his works. 

The song of the month is: "classics of love" by Common Rider. 
 

Greenmuse loves to hear from you, post a message below or send him an email at [email protected] (he does get some rather strange emails from time to time... there was this one from a 14 punker girl who asked him if he wanted to...)